Flagship Mental Health Wellness Champions Programme for Staff Launched at the School of Public Health

A flagship Mental Health Wellness Champions Programme has been launched at the School of Public Health (SPH) in response to results from the 2022 Staff Wellness Survey conducted by the Transformation Committee (TEC) which indicated a need to provide better mental health wellness support to staff in the School. The survey and training were provided in partnership with the UCT Organisational Health section’s Dr Tony Davidson and Ms Blanche Claasen-Hoskins.

The Mental Health Wellness Champions volunteered from across Divisions and Centres and undertook a 2-day training. Content included background and theory of mental illness with a focus on personal reflection and development of a ‘kitbag’ of tools used to assist others. The role of the Mental Health Wellness Champions is the act as a first point of call for SPH staff and colleagues who may be struggling with mental/emotional issues or external stressors. Champions are empowered to contain and support colleagues and make appropriate referrals to ICAS or the psychologist. For the Champions own mental health, they too will meet as a group with and a psychologist for monthly mentorship and ongoing support.

This initiative forms part of several staff wellness services that will be offered in 2023. The SPH TEC has in addition, requested the services of a Clinical Psychologist to be available for all staff in the School and faculty. The UCT Organisational Health section has secured the services of an ICAS psychologist Cat Srubisky who will be available at FHS campus (HEU building) on Fridays 10h00 – 14h00. A booking system is via the psychologist: cat.srubisky@uct.ac.za 

SPH Mental Health Wellness Champions may be contacted on the details below: